Belmar's boardwalk destroyed by Sandy's fury

Oct. 30, 2012

Belmar, NJ-10/30/12- Hurricane Sandy Aftermath-Bob Bielk/ Asbury Park Press Staff Photographer: Aftermath of hurricane Sandy on the Belmar, NJ beachfront. The pilings are all that is left of the boardwalk .

Doherty said that small portions of the promenade were still intact, but that the southern half of the boardwalk had been completely destroyed. The northern half sustained severe damage, but that part of it is still intact, he said.

"It's no longer there," Doherty said of the southern half. "It's been spread out over several blocks."

The boardwalk, which did not sustain major damage during Hurricane Irene last August, extends 1.2 miles from First Avenue to to 20th Avenue.

Debris from the boardwalk can be found at least as far west as B Street, two blocks off Ocean Avenue, said Doherty, who reviewed the area on Monday night in the dark, as Belmar does not have power. He said it did damage to cars, houses and utility poles.

According to Doherty, the rebuilding process of the boardwalk which began in 1991, was concluded this spring.

“For one of the most popular shore communities, it doesn’t get much worse,’’ the mayor said.

Emergency personnel used boats and other equipment to rescue at least six families from water that in areas rose to more than six feet, Doherty said. There are no known injuries, he said.

The borough is littered with downed trees, some of which crashed into homes, and flooded cars, Doherty said.

Officials are concerned about the next high tide, expected for later this morning, he said.